One evening, as I was walking home from work, I bumped into Tachibana-san in the apartment building's lobby. She greeted me warmly and, as we chatted, I mustered the courage to ask her about her housemate.
The world of doujinshi, or self-published works, is a vibrant and diverse part of Japanese fandom culture. Doujinshi can range from manga (comics) and novels to music and other creative expressions. These works are often created by fans and enthusiasts, drawing inspiration from existing anime, manga, and light novels. They can also introduce entirely new stories and characters.
As the days passed, I found myself growing more intrigued by this enigmatic man. Who was he, and what was his connection to Tachibana-san? I began to observe him more closely, noticing that he kept to himself, rarely leaving the apartment.
This work was debuted at the 81st Comic Market in December 2011. Comiket is the world's largest fan-initiated consumer exhibition, held twice a year in Tokyo, Japan. MTSP (Circle):